Fearless forecast/Comelec liquor ban

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY–It would be suspense mode by the time you will be reading this paper when the campaign season has stopped and the noise from blaring loudspeakers ebbed and our ears given a respite from the daily harangue.

  

Also by this time, constituents would have a little peace from campaign promises, rallies and violence while candidates and their supporters would have rested from their hectic schedules.

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            Now our fearless forecast on who would get elected: Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Bernardo Vergara would retain their seats in Baguio City.

            For the city council: Bobby Ortega, Fred Bagbagen, Phillian Weygan, Edilberto Tenefrancia, Elaine Sembrano, Federico Mandapat, Popo Cosalan, Richard Carino, Peter Fianza, Edison Bilog Rodolfo Paraan and Rony Perez.

            In Benguet, Rep. Ronald Cosalan would retain his seat while in Mountain Province, Jup Dominguez would emerge congressman.

            In La Union, of course, the Ortegas would still lord it over like the Singsons in Ilocos Sur and the Marcoses in Ilocos Norte.

            In Ifugao, it would be Solomon Chungalao who would regain his seat as congressman.

            Now for senators it would be Bro. Villanueva, Riza Hontiveros, Francis Escudero, Dick Gordon, Juan Edgardo Angara 111, Bam Aquino, Teodoro Casino, Alan Peter Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Aquilino Pimentel 11 and Grace Poe.

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While the suspense is riveting, it is a relief for the artek who will have to abstain for two days from their favorite drink.

The Commission on Elections earlier announced the liquor ban will take effect May 9 until May 13 which iselection day. But with the Supreme Court TRO, stakeholders in the alcohol can heave a sigh of relief.

Regional director Jose Nick A. Mendros said the liquor ban was issued to address problems related to intoxicating drinks during the election period.

Comelec Resolution 9582 stipulates that any person,  including owners and managers of hotels and establishments, are prohibited to sell, furnish, offer, buy, serve, or take intoxicating liquor anywhere in the  country.

Violation of said liquor ban is punishable with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years with no probation. Don’t expect this however to be strictly followed even for two days as Filipinos are known for palusotin anything.

Almendras earlier said hotels and other establishments duly certified by the Department of Tourism may seek exception from the liquor ban subject to approval by the Comelec. Call it palusot.

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This, as Mendros also reiterated the campaign period will end May 11 (today). This covers those running forsenator,party-list groups, House of Representatives, regional, provincial, city and municipal officials.

The Comelec earlier warned candidates against vote-buying but then again, don’t expect anyone to be charged for the offense, as had always been the case.

Anyhow, Mendros also advised voters not to “over vote” when they fill up their ballots come election day on May 13, as additional names will not be counted.

For the senatorial slate, voters must at most shade 12 among the list of 32 candidates.For Baguio City, voters will choose 12 councilors while in Tabuk City the electorate will select 10 councilors. The rest of municipalities in the region will vote for eight councilors.

He advised voters to list their candidates and bring with them  acodigoor list of candidates in the polling center  to make voting easier and  faster. 

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At press time, Comelec officials said delivery of election paraphernalia in the Cordillera was completed.

All official ballots in Baguio, Benguet and the municipalities of Tineg and Lacub in Abrawere delivered  on May 9, while the rest of the municipalities in the Cordillera weredone on May 10, according to the Comelec.

Precinct Count Optical Scan(PCOS) machines werereportedly opened May 9 for final testing and sealing witnessed by representatives of concerned parties, interested groups and the media.

This was in line with the Comelec en banc resolution which stated that testing and sealing should be done within seven days prior to their reopening on election day on May 13.

Close to 2,000 PCOS machines that will be used in polling precincts in the region have reportedly  arrived in provincial warehouses.

Mendros said tight security was employed  in the warehouse where  the PCOS machines  were kept.

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Commission on Elections assistant regional director RedyBalarbarmeanwhile Wednesday assured that each of the more than 3,000 public school teachers who will serve the May 13 mid-term elections will receive their respective P4,500 allowance.

Balarbar said the teachers, who would compose the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) for Baguio City and the provinces of Benguet, Abra, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Ifugao and Apayao, will serve the polls from May 12 to 14.

“Through a Comelec resolution, the allowance was duly approved and the teachers will be able to receive them from the Land Bank of the Philippines branches before or after May 15, 2013,” Balarbar said.

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Happy voting and vote for persons with integrity or the least corrupt!